I appreciate reading your positive posts. Keep it up!

I especially like the stories of people like Sister Sackett, and all the other unsung Zion-builders.

Mark IV, have I ever told you how much I appreciate what seems to be your habit of checking Keepapitchinin every morning, and being willing to comment? I do.

When most women today have much more opportunity to get out of the house, or at least to bring entertainment and cultural artifacts into the house, I wonder whether we can really appreciate what a program like the Singing Mothers must have meant to our mothers and grandmothers.

I attended Payson High School over twenty years ago. I was blessed to sing for David Dahlquist, one of the most impressive musicians and directors I have ever met. (A song he wrote – “Lullaby” – took second place in the 1980 All-Church Music Contest.) I thought of him when I read your description of Sis. Sackett and Bro. Stephens:

“they both believed that the outside world offered no greater rewards than could be found at home, and that their calling was to develop the raw talent of the Saints into offerings worthy of the Kingdom of God.”

Mr. D had numerous opportunities to leave our little farm community school and pursue a career at the college level and beyond. He stayed, however, because he simply loved touching kids’ hearts and helping them find glory and majesty in music. The sheer joy and rapture on his face when a song “clicked” with his kids was wonderful to behold. He touched more lives directly and profoundly in his 30 years as a teacher than perhaps anyone else in the history of the towns that feed into Payson High. Other than my father, he probably is the one teacher who has been the greatest inspirational example in my life.

His and his wife’s story is told in the September, 2002 Ensign (“In a Quiet House”). The link is too long to include here, but if you read it (and please do) have a box of Kleenex handy. It is incredibly moving and illustrates Dave and Maria amazingly well. Their story will break your heart and fill your soul.

Mr.D retired a few years ago, and a scholarship fund was established in his name to help an exceptional student each year who sings at Payson High School pursue his or her college career. If you know of anyone who can read his story and bring this fund to a greater audience, I will be eternally grateful.

I can remember my mother participating in the stake Singing Mothers when I was very little, but I thought that was just what they called themselves in our area. I didn’t know that this was a church-wide institution with such a grand heritage.

Not only did such music praise God, but also provided the sisters with “a much needed emotional outlet and relief from home cares.”

In my mom’s case, this was true. She enjoyed going to the practices, and seemed refreshed and renewed when she came home.